About 20 job seekers connected with local employers May 9 at a Reverse Commute Job Fair in Lebanon to explore a variety of vacancies, complete applications and arrange interviews. Commuters and businesses alike were enthusiastic about the bus line that is opening between the IndyGo stop at Capitol and Ohio and the Lebanon Business Park. This is an exciting collaboration that addresses community needs. United Way of Central Indiana applauds the efforts of the Lebanon business community, CIRTA, Boone County Senior Services and the supporting human service agencies that are working together so people have the tools and support to create financial stability.

A reverse commute is a route regularly taken from a metropolitan area to a suburban area for employment. Reverse commuters travel in the opposite direction of typical commuters and encounter less traffic congestion.

--Christie Snyder, Boone County Area Director for United Way of Central Indiana

Unfortunately, children from low-income neighborhoods are at high-risk of what researchers call a "word deficit". Among socioeconomic groups, there is not only a disparity in the complexity of words used, but also astonishing differences in the quantity. Children of professionals are, on average, exposed to approximately 1,500 more words hourly than children growing up in poverty. This results in a gap of more than 32 million words by the time the children reached the age of 4.

So, how do we shrink the gap? At United Way, we believe that high-quality child care can make a big difference for a future kindergartner. We also believe in the power of a caring adult and strong community partnerships. Why not bring them all together?

At Mt. Carmel Academy, 11 volunteers spent time with 11 preschoolers exploring new vocabulary words. They played educational apps on iPads, practiced literacy skills with games and read stories to puppies. Yep, puppies.

United Way, WFYI and Indy-Humane leveraged their relationship as Reuben Community Grant recipients to create a kindergarten readiness event featuring PBS Kids' "Martha Speaks", a TV show about a talking dog who teaches puppies new vocabulary. The volunteers, who were iPad experts, helped the students practice and explore new literacy skills and spent time playing and reading with puppies - just like Martha.

While puppies, preschoolers and iPads may be an unlikely match-up, it was the perfect way for these future kindergartners to get a boost and close that word gap so they can be ready to learn in August.

- Heather Girton, Early Childhood Project Manager, United Way of Central Indiana

Some information from this blog post can be credited to the New York Times. To view more photos from this event, visit our flickr page.

Bev Middaugh, CEO, hired him after a job specialist at Noble of Indiana met with her about offering supported employment for one of their clients. Reluctant at first, Bev did agree to making a list of duties an entry level staffer might do to free up others to focus on their jobs. With that long list, Bev agreed to interview Will, and immediately hired him.

Now, he's the go-to man at Bright Ideas, taking care of cleaning, moving boxes, managing inventory and any number of other daily chores. Joking with Bev, William tells her that he doesn't know "what she would do without him."

In recent years, William and Bev have made presentations to help others see what their experience has proven: an investment in supporting workers like William with training and job placement pays dividends for the whole community.

Once after William spoke to other Noble clients about his work and his life, Bev said his audience was "enraptured that he had the life they wanted. He is their super hero!"

"Will's story beautifully illustrates United Way's mission: helping people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives," said Rita Davis, Noble's director of community development. "Our jobs can help shape and direct other areas of our lives. By achieving success and finding happiness and self sufficiency in his job, Will has done just that."

--Mary L. Kinney, Public/media relations director

Note: You can meet William and Bev in this story produced by WTHR Channel 13. Thanks to United Way and its focus on Income, 1.114 persons with disabilities worked in competitive wage jobs for a community-based employer or while self-employed in 2011-2012. United Way currently funds seven agencies that provide employment services to people with disabilities. United Way's total 2012/13 investment in those seven agencies is just over $2.1 million. Thank you!

Since 1958, UWCI has invested more than $14 million helping Noble of Indiana. This includes grants of more than $1.2 million for capital, maintenance and technology improvements from funds contributed specifically for such needs. The agency’s 2012/2013 Community Fund allocation is $451,487.